Max kerstein



(N'o Model.)

M. KERSTEIN.- DEVICE POR AUTOMATIGALLY INSULATING BROKEN WIRE.

Patented 001;. 21, 1890..

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Wl HEEEEE @M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX KERSTEIN, GF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RUDOLPHFURGANG, OF SAME PLACE. Y

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY INSULATING BROKEN WIRE.

SPECIFICA.TIO1\T forming part of Letters Application led July 14, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX KERSTEIN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and improved Device for automaticallyInsulating a Broken Wire in an Electrical Circuit, of which thefollowing; is a specification.

This is a device intended for application to 1o an electric wire-such asa power-wire for an electric railway, an electric-light wire, dac.-whereby on the accidental breakage of such wire the broken end willbeinstantly and automatically insulated, thus renderingit harmless incase it should fall upon another wire or any object or person.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts, Figure l is a side elevation of my device as zoapplied to an electric wire suchi as is used in connection with anelectric railway operated by the so-called overhead or trolley system.Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of one of the twosimilar operative portions of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view withthe device in the position assumed when the Wire has become broken andis insulated by the operation of the device. Fig. 4 is an end elevationof the device.

A A represent two exactly-similar cylindrical boxes made of conductive'material, whose rear ends A A are held Jtogether in any desired manner,the method shown consisting of their being screwed into a ring B,internally provided with a right and left screw. This ring not onlyholds the boxes together but supports them, being itself supported bythe supporting-wire Fig. 4, or other device, by means of the glassinsulator d, around which is twisted the Wire d', leading to thesupporting-wire of an electric railway. The boxes A may be supported byany practicable attachment either from a wire or post or other suitabledevice.

A represents the front end of the box A, and the entire box is linedwith rubber or other insulating material o. The front end A is centrallyperforated to receive a cylindrical block or piston C, of conductivemate- Patent No. 438,814, dated October 21 1890.

Serial No. 358,685. (No model.)

rial, which lies normallyin the position shown 5o in`Fig. 2, and isprovided with a flange C', whereby it is prevented from being pulled outof the end A of the box. A metallic rod D extends from the piston Chorizontally while a spiral spring E surrounds the pistonrod between thehead D and the end A of the box, said spring being insulated from thebox by the insulation b and from the piston, piston-rod, and head by theinsulation d, se- 6o cured to them, and the insulation-tube d.

F is a tubular metallic guide-box provided with a flange F at its rearend, between which and the box A is a mass of insulation e. The piston Cextends normally from the end of the box A through the insulation e andinto the guide-box F, and from the outer end of said piston extends awire H, surrounded with insulation e', said wire extending through asuitable perforation in the outer 7o end F of the guide-box. This wireis integral With the piston C and is the true wire on the circuit-t',e., the power-wire-or is brazed or otherwise secured thereto.

able intervals on the wire in circuit for supplying electrical power toan electrical railway by means of atrolley, a graduated track I issecured to the underside of the guide-box F,

by means of which the trolley K may be con- 8o ducted down to the underside of the box A, where, after jumping the space under the insulatione, it finds another track J secu red to said box.

In operation, the device, being placed at 85 suitable intervals alongthe line, when no breakage has occurred is as shown in Fig. 2, theelectric current passing from the Wire H through the piston C and theboxes to the wire at the other end of the apparatus. In 9o case the wireH breaks, the spring, which has been contracted by the pull of the wireupon the piston, instantly expands and pulls back the piston by means ofthe rod D and head D', so that the piston C and wire H are in the 95position shownin Fig. 3, and are insulated by the insulation e. e b fromthe box, thus rendering the wire harmless from the apparatus into thebox and is provided with a head D', 55 I When this device is to beplaced at suit- Y to the broken end. Hence if thebroken end should fallon another Wire or on any person no harm would ensue.

Of course an electric-light wire would not need the parts I J.

Itis not absolutely necessary that there should be two boxes A securedtogether; but it is advisable that such should be the case, in orderthat a breakage on either side of the device may be provided for whenthe apparatus is secured to a Wire between posts.

The tubular box F serves both as a support and a guide for the Wire.

The insulation c may be secured to the box end A and the iiange F byscrews or in any suitable manner.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatIclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent,l is

l. The herein-described device for autoniatically insulating a brokenWire in an electrical circuit, comprising the following parts, Viz: abox or case, as A, of conductive material, a piston C, of conductivematerial, from which the electric Wire extends, said piston beingnormally electrically intermediate With said wire and box, a piston-rodD and spring E, and suitably-distributed insulatingr material, wherebywhen breakage of the wire octected by insulation d, the piston C, andWire H, protected by insulation c', substantially as described.

3. The combination of the box A, provided with the perforated end A andlined with insulating material b, the insulation-tube d', the spring E,piston-rod and head D D', protected by insulation d, the piston C,tubular guide F, separated from the box A by insulation e, and the wireH, protected by insulation e and extending through said guide to thesaid piston, substantially as set forth,

4. The combination of the box A, provided Wit-l1 the track J on itsunder side, and the guide F, provided with the graduated track I on itsunder side, substantially as and for the purpose described.

MAX KERSTEIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, RUDoLPH FURGANG.

